What Causes the Leak of Transmission Fluids

You are almost at the end of your driveway, in a hurry for work, when suddenly you see something strange on the ground where your car was. Dark-colored and suspicious, you step out of your car to see what it is. It turns out to be reddish oil; this means you have a leaking transmission fluid.

Now, what to do? There is no need to worry because this does not call for an adrenaline rush since it’s nothing major, but you should not ignore it. You need to know what caused the leak and that’s what we are going to discuss so you’ll know how to avoid them next time and prevent a leak from happening again.

What Causes the Leak of Transmission Fluids

Via Agcoauto.com

Damaged Seals

This means that the seals on your transmission get too much high-temperature exposure while it is working, and this leads to major cases of wear and tear. Since they are made using metal or rubber, they have a big tendency to break down, and this makes the fluid leak. There is a crack in the seal of the pan; fluid will start to leak.

Stuck and damaged bell housing

Loose rocks and roads with bad pavement endanger transmissions to leak if the bell housing is damaged. This can lead to your car being incapacitated by losing a lot of transmission fluid. The debris on the road can also cause transmission fluid leak. Even if they are made with durable rubber or metal, the obstacles on the road can puncture them which can cause leaking. Aside from that, it could also cause warping in the pan gasket of the transmission preventing from closing properly and fluid will flow out. While replacing the gaskets, see if there is warping or other surface damages that will hinder sealing.

Torque converter

Via Agcoauto.com

This can also be a concern because if there are malfunctioning needle bearings and/or cracks, leaking can happen. One crack in the body of the torque converter or impaired needle bearings is challenging to fix. You need to ask the shop to fix this for you because doing it on your own will be difficult.

Installation issue

There are some cases when there is a bad installation within the transmission system pan that can cause a leak. You need to ask a professional mechanic to inspect the bolts of the loose pan so you can stop problems and more leaks in the transmission fluid.

Solenoid issues

The job of the solenoid is to control the fluid flow in the whole transmission. A lot of times, it can become damaged because of insufficient levels of fluid or other problems in the electronic system of the car. Problems that come with the solenoid are normally like the ones found in inadequate levels of fluid or leaks. If the vehicle’s transmission is lapsing and you see no leak, check the solenoid.

Via Agcoauto.com

Fluid lines

The fluid lines in of the transmission can also be affected by extreme heat or debris on the road. When cars run over debris, they can puncture the lines. Even if this does not happen always, heat can also cause lines to crack.

Leaking pan

Transmission pan can also get damaged and prone to wear and tear. The puncture in the pan alone can leak or the loose bolts and plugs used for draining that are still loose. While you are on the road, the loose rocks can hit the pan and damage it. If there is a big object that punctures the pan, it is going to cause a lot of transmission fluid to leak out and you will see this right away. If the puncture is only small, you won’t see it right away. Another cause of leaking is loose bolts. That’s why they need to be properly tightened after changing or flushing the fluid.

Problems in the clutch

The clutch can be found in the torque converter, which can get jammed from time to time, this causes the solenoid to lock and can cause miscalculation of transmission fluid in the torque. These kinds of problems can also become like low levels of fluid. Problems in the clutch can usually cause rapid sh﻿aking ﻿underneath and could lead to production of high levels of heat. You will notice that there is a sudden drop in your engine’s power output.

How to stop transmission fluid leak

Via Agcoauto.com

Make reminders so you know when it is time to check the level and condition of the transmission. The recommended way to do this is by regular intervals.

Only use the same kind of fluid written in the manual

When changing the transmission fluid, follow the manual

If you detect a transmission fluid problem, always go straight to the car dealer because they have t﻿﻿h﻿﻿e original parts. They have full knowledge of what your car needs because it differs from every model. While you are talking to the dealer or mechanic, always give all the details so they’ll know exactly what to do.

If you need to do a while reverse parking, make sure that the car has completely stopped.

People have the habit of just stepping out of the car and walk away without checking if there are any leaks. You should always check the parking area if there are any leaks to keep it from getting worst and take it to a professional right away.

If you don’t have to take it to the shop because it’s only a minor leak, you can use certain products and follow the instructions. This can save you money and time and you will gain extra knowledge for the next time your car experiences a transmission fluid leak.

When there is a transmission fluid leak, don’t ignore it because it can lead to bigger problems. If you don’t know how to fix it, always talk to a professional mechanic or dealer. This is a common problem for car owners and you should never hesitate to ask for help if you need to.

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